The Realities of Being a Mom to a Child with Speech Delays

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When you’re raising a child with speech delays, it’s common for others to brush it off as if it’s not a big deal. Sure, it’s not the end of the world, and every child develops at their own pace, but for you and your little one, it’s a significant concern. You put on a brave face, try to ignore the dismissive remarks, and conceal your true feelings. There’s so much you wish you could express—maybe it’s time to let it out.

It stings to receive those developmental milestone emails about what your child “should” be doing. Learning French? Your kid barely speaks English. Identifying shapes and colors? She can’t even say “dog.” Those emails serve as painful reminders that your child is on a different path, and it hurts.

Hearing stories about other kids who started talking late can be equally painful. You dread the thought of your child falling behind, and you worry about the possibility of her being teased or bullied. Kids can be cruel; they already notice at the playground when she doesn’t speak and point it out. It’s heart-wrenching that she can’t express whether these comments affect her.

Shopping trips become uncomfortable when strangers ask her questions, only to receive silence or babbling in return. You can feel their judgmental looks, and it’s even more upsetting when she tries so hard to communicate, only to be dismissed with, “I can’t understand you.” It’s frustrating when people keep prompting, “Can you say this?” No, she can’t, and that’s not how you encourage a child with speech delays. You’re too polite to tell them to just stop.

Explaining her speech delays to others feels like a betrayal of her privacy. You don’t want to give the impression that she’s being rude or doesn’t understand. It’s painful when people assume she’s not intelligent just because she isn’t talking. Trust us, she understands far more than they realize.

Scrolling through social media can be a minefield. Posts from friends bragging about their kids who are the same age or younger—talking in sentences, identifying colors, or expressing love—can be hard to stomach. You feel guilty for feeling hurt, especially when you’re genuinely happy for them. The worst is when someone shares that their toddler said, “I love you.” You long to hear those words from your child and wonder when (or if) that day will come.

People suggesting you seek help can be maddening. You’re already doing everything in your power—consulting doctors, arranging for in-home therapy, and even starting interventions early. Do they really think you wouldn’t seek the best for your child? And to those who think they know better just because they have kids or are grandparents? They can keep their unsolicited advice to themselves.

It’s tough to admit how much this situation hurts. No mother wants to see her child struggle or feel like she’s falling behind. Every mom questions her choices and wonders if she could have done something differently. The self-blame is overwhelming. If you dare to express your frustration, you risk being met with judgment, with people suggesting you shouldn’t have had kids or that you’re belittling your child. Seriously? Those comments are among the reasons you bottle up your feelings.

Being told not to worry about the speech delay is easy for those who haven’t been in your shoes or whose kids breezed through therapy with little to no issues. Your child still faces challenges, and it’s painful to witness.

It’s heartbreaking to see your child struggle while feeling powerless to help. You wish you could ease her pain, but instead, you watch her face fall when people overlook her or label her as a baby for her lack of speech.

The fear is palpable—why isn’t she making progress with therapy? Will she catch up before school? Will other issues arise? Is it silly to worry so much? And what about your other child? Will they face similar challenges?

The plain truth is that it hurts. It hurts deeply in so many ways, and very few people truly understand the depth of your experience. If you want to learn more about related topics, check out this blog post about home insemination options. And if you’re looking for authoritative resources, Make a Mom has some great insights, and WebMD offers excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.

In summary, navigating the journey of parenting a child with speech delays can be incredibly painful and isolating. It’s essential to acknowledge these challenges and seek support while understanding that your child is doing her best, even if it doesn’t always match societal expectations.